re: So I got suckered into listening NPR and heard this gem

quote:

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This is my retort to the climate folks. What happened to the 2 mile thick glaciers in North America 10000 yrs ago... I guess it was non manmade Global Warming

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Earth's climate has always swung between warm and cold, with ice ages driven by natural cycles. The presence of glaciers 10,000 years ago isn't directly comparable to today's warming trend. These two phenomena operate on different timescales. Ice ages, driven by natural long-term cycles, waxed and waned over thousands of years. Current warming, primarily caused by human greenhouse gas emissions, is rapid and occurring within a century.

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise rapidly. This warming trend, distinct from natural cycles, is backed by overwhelming scientific evidence.

While the past offers valuable insights into Earth's climate history, understanding the present requires focusing on the dominant force shaping our future: human impact on the planet's delicate balance.